Curious which drivers you should keep an eye on at each Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota event? Series Announcer Rob Klepper will bring you his five drivers to keep an eye on each race weekend.
This week: Midget Roundup at Airport Raceway, May 24-25, with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association
KLEPPER’S FIVE:
Jacob Denney
Why: Well… it makes perfect sense to keep the current Xtreme points leader the No. 1 driver to watch as we head back to Kansas. He’s won three of four events this year, including a sweep of Humboldt and 81 two weeks ago, and brings a 47-point lead back to the “Sunflower State.” Though Denney has never run at Airport Raceway, confidence level is high… I repeat confidence level is high (or at least it should be).
Cannon McIntosh
Why: It was a big surprise to see the defending Xtreme Midget champ struggle in Rounds 1 & 2 at Farmer City, posting a best of 15th at the season opener. Sure, that put him behind the 8-Ball in the chase for his second straight series title, BUT back-to-back top fives at Humboldt (fifth) and 81 (third) have allowed Mac to climb into the top 10 in points heading into Garden City. Airport Raceway has been kind to him with one career win (2020) and four top fives in six starts. Toss in a USAC National Midget win at Belleville last week, and some may say Mac is back.
Jake Bubak
Why: This one is a no-brainer. In the past two years, NO ONE ELSE HAS WON at the Midget Roundup besides the three-time United Rebel Sprint Series Champion Jake Bubak. And yes… he will be in the house looking to sweep the weekend for the third straight year. Bubak comes into the weekend after winning the RMMRA season opener (14th career series win) last week at El Paso County Speedway and will be back in the Bourke Motorsports No. 27B looking for career win No. 1 with the Xtreme Midgets. Did I mention he’s won the past four events at Airport?
Keith Rauch
Why: You just can’t mention the Rocky Mountain Midgets without mentioning the 13-time Series champion Keith Rauch. Approaching 100 career series wins… the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Famer swept the 2022 Midget Roundup and finished second and fourth last year. He will be in one of five Hamilton Motorsports cars this weekend at a track where in the last 10 years has only finished outside the top 10 once… and that was an 11th in 2019.
Why: You just can’t mention the Rocky Mountain Midgets without mentioning the 13-time Series champion Keith Rauch. Approaching 100 career series wins… the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Famer swept the 2022 Midget Roundup and finished second and fourth last year. He will be in one of five Hamilton Motorsports cars this weekend at a track where in the last 10 years has only finished outside the top 10 once… and that was an 11th in 2019.
Lance Bennett
Why: Simple… Bennett is the two-time and defending RMMRA champion. Now, he hasn’t had the best of luck in his three career starts with the Xtreme Midgets. In 2023 Bennett ran 20th at Humboldt Speedway and a few weeks ago finished 16th at Humboldt and 14th at 81. Though not horrible performances… this is a track that can turn that frown upside down. In the past three years of the Midget Roundup, he’s finished second twice and third once, and NOW we are on his turf. Look for a career best Xtreme finish for the Rocky Mountain Champ.
Why: Simple… Bennett is the two-time and defending RMMRA champion. Now, he hasn’t had the best of luck in his three career starts with the Xtreme Midgets. In 2023 Bennett ran 20th at Humboldt Speedway and a few weeks ago finished 16th at Humboldt and 14th at 81. Though not horrible performances… this is a track that can turn that frown upside down. In the past three years of the Midget Roundup, he’s finished second twice and third once, and NOW we are on his turf. Look for a career best Xtreme finish for the Rocky Mountain Champ.
You can follow these drivers and more all weekend at Airport Raceway, May 25-25, by getting your tickets at the gate.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live – with Rob Klepper – on DIRTVision.
UP NEXT: King of Coles at Coles County Speedway, May 30-31
